1849 Philadelphia to Canton via London, Southampton, and Hong Kong. Stampless folded letter to U.S. Navy East India Squadron Fleet Surgeon William S. W. Ruschenberger on the U.S.S. Plymouth "Care of Wetmore & Co." in Canton, China, letter is from his wife in Philadelphia (14 pages on 4 tissue sheets) and is datelined from December 17, 1848, through January 6, 1849, evidently carried privately from Philadelphia to London where endorsed "P[er] Overland mail via Southampton" and marked "1/" (shilling), forwarding agents "Lemuel Goddard/London" blue double-lined double oval handstamp (Rowe R3) and "Forwarded By Rawle, Drinker & Co./Hong Kong" orange-red oval handstamp (40 x 23 mm, Rowe R5) on the back, some deterioration and missing paper affecting the Rawle Drinker handstamp, F.-V.F. Estimate  $300 - 400. The East India Squadron is best known for the Perry Expedition to Japan 1852-1854. Dr. Ruschenberger served as Fleet Surgeon 1835-1837 and 1847-1849. The U.S. Sails Sloop of War Plymouth (989 tons, 22 guns, complement of 210) was built in Boston in 1844. The ship was burned and scuttled at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1861 to prevent her capture by the Confederate States of America. $0 (Image)